EverestLabs announces first international deployment

Veolia Australia and New Zealand (Veolia ANZ) has selected EverestLabs to digitize and automate sorting operations at one of its material recovery facilities (MRFs) in Perth, Australia, marking the first deployment of its kind in the region and the first international installation for the Fremont, California-based technology company.

This move is part of Veolia’s broader global commitment to modernize recycling infrastructure and improve circular outcomes through innovation.

The deployment of EverestLabs' modular vision artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic sorting solution enables Veolia ANZ to gain real-time visibility into plant operations, address rising labor challenges and increase material recovery rates, according to the supplier.

"It is in these repetitive processes where machines can learn through AI and be guided by human intervention that smart tech can be most useful—especially in Veolia's world-leading resource recovery facilities and our rapidly expanding sector,” Veolia ANZ CEO and Managing Director Richard Kirkman says.

Veolia ANZ selected EverestLabs’ RecycleOS solution for its turnkey deployment model, accuracy and modular design that can be retrofitted into existing MRF infrastructure, according to a news release issued by EverestLabs. Each EverestLabs robotic cell is equipped with vision AI that scans and identifies recyclables in real time. The system then directs robotic arms to select and sort targeted items directly from the conveyor belt. EverestLabs claims 90 percent pick success, two to three times the speed of manual sorting and around-the-clock uptime.

Everestlabs says its robots are compact, install in just hours without retrofits and are monitored 24/7 by EverestLabs’ Robotic Operations Center to ensure consistent performance. This enables Veolia ANZ to recover more high-quality materials, reduce landfill volumes and operate more safely by eliminating the need for human workers in hazardous sorting zones.

"We’re proud to support Veolia Australia’s bold step forward in modernizing recycling operations," EverestLabs founder and CEO Jagadeesh Ambati says. “Our robotic systems are doing the heavy lifting—identifying, sorting and reporting in real time—so facilities can focus on running more efficiently, sustainably and safely.”

EverestLabs’ AI and robotic technologies have been deployed by major recycling companies in the U.S., including Republic Services, Waste Connections and Novelis.